Preston

Preston's population expanded in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, housing tenure and health.

The population passed 140,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Preston increased by 8.2%, from almost 130,000 to 140,000.

The addition of almost 11,000 people means this area's population was the third-fastest-growing in the North West and increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Preston was home to, on average, 7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Preston

Latest census data also show that the median age of Preston remained 35 years in the decade to 2011.

This city had a lower average age than the North West and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 5,300 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 18% of people in Preston are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Preston by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

Preston saw the North West's largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (41%) people aged 16 and over in Preston said they were married, compared with 48% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 34% to 41%.

Across the region, Hyndburn saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of married people (from 52% in 2001 to 46% in 2011).

Every local authority area across the North West saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 50% to 45%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Preston working less than 16 hours increased from 2.1% to 4.0% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.4%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 10% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.7% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Preston increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Preston, the North West and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Preston

Preston saw the North West's joint third-largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability, alongside Salford. The largest fall was seen in Barrow-in-Furness

In 2011, just over 1 in 17 (6.1%) in Preston reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.8% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.3% to 4.0%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More students

The percentage of Preston residents that were studying increased from 4.3% to 6.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 50%, while the percentage of Preston residents that were unemployed increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The proportion of students increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the North West (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Preston increased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Preston, the North West and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

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